Testing apparatus



N. HANSON TAL TESTING APPARATUSI 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April l2. 1939 m Mw Y F. N R m l A as ,p 953 86 April 8, 1941. A. N. HANSON HAL TESTING APPARATUS Filed April 12, 1959 V2 sheets-shed 2 Patented Apr. 8, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEA TESTING APPARATUS Arvid N. Hanson,

Hinsdale,

and Stanley F.

Application April 12, 1939, Serial No. 267,422

(Cl. 17th-175.1)

15 Claims.

` This invention relates to testing apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for connecting the terminals of telephone exchange equipment to electrical testing circuits.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple mechanism for quickly connecting electrical apparatus to a testing circuit.

In accordance with one ,embodiment of the invention, apparatus is provided for holding a telephone switching unit, known as a multicontact relay in position to be tested, wherein the relay to be tested is mounted on a stationary framework and a movable framework, carrying `a pluralityof rows of contact springs, which act as terminals of the testing circuit and which are insulated one from another, is moved toward the stationary framework to carry the plurality of rows of springs into position over their associated terminals of the relay.

the hand lever will bringall of the springs simultaneously into engagement with the terminals and will lock the movable framework against movement along its track. The movable framework carries a series of projections for directing some of the terminals into association with their respective springs to prevent contact `by, the springs with terminals not associated with them and `the movable framework also carries spring pressed contacts for engaging with the terminals ofthe relay coils and a brush type contacter for engagingparts of the relay frame.

A `better understanding of the invention may behad by reference to thefollowing detailed dei scription `of one embodiment thereof, when con- The contact springs are then all moved simultaneously at sidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. lis a front elevational view of an apparatus embodying the invention, having a part thereof broken away to conserve space;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1 with a multi-contact relay shown in dot and dash lines thereon in position to be tested; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate the same parts throughout the several views, the numeral Ill designates a main support member for supporting the entire apparatus. This support member extends downwardly beyond the point where it is broken off and may be mounted or secured upon any suitable base or may be fixed to a work bench where the apparatus will be within easy reach of a person using it for testing multi-contact relays. The main support member Il has fixed thereto a pair of brackets I and I2, which extend outwardly to the left (Fig. 1) from the member ID and carry a vertically extending bar I3 on which are mounted a pair of relay supporting pins I4 and I5. Also mountedupon the member IIJ are a pair of brackets I6 and Il, which carry upwardly and downwardly extending rails I8 and I9, respectively, for cooperation with movable frame slides 23 and 2|, respectively. The slides 2U and 2| are slotted at 22 and 23 .to receive the rails I8 and I9, respectively, and the slides are fixed to a `U-shaped movable framework 24, which carries all of the contacting devices of the apparatus which are to be moved into engagement with various parts of the relay under test. It should be noted that the left end of the rails I8 and I9 are connected together by means of a stop bar |03, which prevents movement ofthe movable frame 24 off of the rails due to the engagement of the slides 23 and 2| with the stop bar |33.

The relay, which is to be connected to a testing circuit by the particular apparatus illustrated herein, includes, as shown in Fig. 2, in dot and dash lines, a pair of actuating coils 3| and 32, the upper coil 3| being designed tobe actuated by the completion of an electrical circuit thereto through a pair of terminals 33 and 34 and the lower coil being provided` with a pair of `similar terminals 35 and 36. The completion of a circuit through these terminals and thecoils' 3| and 32 of the relay will cause the relay to close either the upper half of its contacts or the lower -half thereof, depending upon which of the coils 3| or 32 is energized. The contact vterminals ofthe relay under test are formed4 integrally with the contacts of the relay, which are adapted to be closed by the coils 3| and 32, andv all the stationary contacts of the relay4 have terminals of the same length, which terminals'are-designa'ted in Figs. 2 and 3, by the reference numeral 3l, whereas the terminals formed integrally with the movable contacts of the relay are of varying lengths to facilitate making the electrical connections to them and are designated, in Figs. 2 and 3, by the reference numeral The various terminals 31 and 39 are insulated one from another by strips of insulation, not shown, and are spaced apart by metal separators interposed between the layers of insulating material, whereby the terminals Til' and 38 are held in spaced relation.

The terminals 99, 34, 95, and 39 of the coils 9| and are adapted to be connected to the testing circuit, not shown, by plunger type contacts 99, di and 42, respectively. rl'he contacts 39 and 99 are positioned in a blockfiti of insulating material mounted on the upper horizontally disposed portion of the movable framework 24 and the contacts 4| and 42 are mounted in a block of insulating material 44, supported by the lower horizontally disposed portion of the framework 24. These contacts 39 to 42, inclusive, will be moved into engagement with their associated terminals 33 to 39, inclusive, upon movement of the movable framework 24 toward the bar i3, which supports the relay under test, and the contacts 39 to 42, inclusive, are of the usual spring-pressed type, which will resiliently engage with the end of the terminals.

Also mounted upon the upper portion of the movable framework 24 is a bracket 59, on which there is pivotally mounted a brush supporting plate The brush supporting plate 5I is normally urged to rock about a pivot 52, mounted on the bracket 59, by a compression spring 53, which surrounds a pin 54 fixed to the framework 24. Pivotally secured to the upper end of the pin 54 is a cam lever 55, which has a cam 59 formed on the lower end thereof, and which, when in the position shown, holds a brush 51 mounted on the end of the brush supporting plate 5| in its lowermost position, where it will engage the separator plates of the relay.

Between the two horizontally extending arms of the U-shaped movable framework 24, there are positioned a pair of guide plates 69 and 6| having slots 52 and 93, respectively, formed therein for receiving a contact support 64, which is slidable in the slots. The contact support 64 has suitably mounted thereon a plurality of rows of contact members, which may be assembled on t the Contact support 94 in any suitable manner by assembling superposed layers of insulating material having cut-outs therein for receiving contacts or, as is shown in the present case, may be a molded block 65 of insulating material with the contacts molded in position in the block. The block 65 and the contact support 34 are fixed one to another and are normally urged upwardly away from the lower horizontal arm of the frameworik 24 by a compression spring 99 seated in a depression 61 in the block 65 and bearing against the lower horizontal arm of the framework 24. The contact support 84 is cut out, as shown at 19, in the area thereof adjacent-the contacts carried by it to permit the contacts to pass through it without engaging it.

Rotatable in the vertically extending portion oi' the framework 29 and in the guide plate 69 is an actuating lever 1| having a knob or hand wheel 'l2 fixed to the end thereof. The shank of the lever 1| has a locking portion'fcrmed thereon, as shown at '53. This locking portion comprises two at surfaces 14 and 15 and tworounded surfaces 19 and 11. In the positionrshown, the rounded surfaces and 'l1 are inengagement with the wall 18 of a semi-circular opening formed in the main support member I9, and when the shaft 1| is in this position, the movable framework 24 cannot be moved, but is locked in position by the engagement of the surfaces 19 and 11 with the wall 19. This semi-circular opening is at the end of a slot 19, also formed in the member I9, which slot 19 is adapted to receive the portion i3 of the shank of the lever 1| with the flat surfaces 14 and 15 engaging the opposite surfaces of the slot to prevent rotation of the lever in any of the adjusted positions of lever 1|, except when it is at the extreme right end (Fig. 2) of its movement.

Mounted on the left end of the lever 1| (Figs. 1 and 3), is a cam 89, which cooperates with a pivoted lever 8|, pivotally mounted on the plate 69, by means of a pivot pin 82. The lever 8| is forked at its left end (Fig. 2), as shown at 83, and receives a pin 84 in the forked portion thereof, which pin is fixed in the block 65, whereby, upon rotation of the lever 1| to the position shown, the cam 89 will move the block 65 and contact support 94 downwardly to the position shown. When the lever 1| is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, the cam 89 will permit the lever 8l to rock about its pivot and the spring 69 will move the block 65 and contact support 64 up slightly from the position shown. A rotation of the lever 1| in a counter-clockwise direction, as just described, will also bring the flat sides 14 and 15 of the portion 13 of the shank into registration with the slot 19, whereby the movable framework 24 and all of the parts supported thereby may be moved to the left (Fig. 2) so that a relay, such as that shown in dot and dash lines, may be positioned on the pins|4 and I5.

The contacts carried by the block 65, and mentioned generally hereinbefore, comprise a series. of rows of contacts or contact fingers 99, 9|, 92, 93, 94, 95 and 96, there being six of the contact fingers 99 in each row thereof and one each of the contacts 9|, 92, 93, 94, 95 and 96 in each row. It will be noted that the contacts 9| to 95, inclusive, are progressively longer, from right to left (Figs. l and 3), and this construction is provided to make contact with the terminals 39, which are progressively shorter from right to left, as seen in dot and dash lines in Fig. 3, and that the contacts 99 are shorter than the contacts 9| since terminals 31 are longer than the terminals 38. Each of the contact fingers 99 to 99, inclusive, have a bent knife-edged portion at their ends, whereby they will engage projections formed on the terminals 31 and 38. The terminals 31 are guided into position under the contacts 99 by a plurality of projections |95 on the front of the block 65 when the movable framework 24 is moved to the position shown. The projections |95 are made of insulating material and have their extending ends' tapered so that any terminal 31 which has been bent out of its normal position in handling the relay will be guided into association with the proper contact 99. lThese projections |95 may be formed'in't'egrally Withthe block 65 or may be assembled therewith inahy suitable manner. elusive, extend to the right of the block 65 (Fig. 2) and in addition are provided with terminal ends ma, which-extend out to the left of the block 65 to receive wires IBI, which `are grouped together in a cable |92,`extending to'I suitable testing circuits, not shown,whereby` break-down tests may be made between the various contacts of the relay under test, which are connected The contacts .99 lto 95, in!

through the contactsiito 96, inclusive, to the cable. Other operationtests of the relay may also be made by circuits (not shown) connected to the wires |0| while the relay is mountedin the apparatus.

It is believed that a brief description of the mode of operation of the apparatus described hereinbefore will facilitate an understanding of the details thereof, and accordingly, the following brief description of the method followed in using the apparatus is presented.

The knob or hand wheel 12 may be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to rotate the actuating lever 1| approximately one-fourth of a revolution, thereby to bring the flat surfaces 14 and 15 of the portion 13 of the lever 1| into registry with the slot 19, whereupon the entire movable framework 24, and all of the apparatus carried thereby, may be moved to the left (Fig. 2). Rotation of the shaft 1| one-fourth of a turn in a counterclockwise direction will permit the spring B6 to raise the contact support B4 and block 65 upwardly an amount sufficient to lift all of the contacts 90 to 96, inclusive, out of engagement with their associated terminals 31and 38, and after the contacts have thus been disengaged from the terminals, the movable frame carrying the contacts with it may be moved to the left, it being assumed that the brush 51 has been disengaged from the separators of the relay by moving the cam lever 55 in a clockwise direction to permit the brush supporting plate 5| to move upwardly prior to the movement of the movable framework 24 to the left (Fig. 2) After the movable framework 24 has been moved to the point where the slides 20 and 2| engage the stop bar |93, the relay may be removed from the pins I4 and I5 and a new relay placed thereon to be tested. The lever 1| may'then be moved to the right (Fig. 2) by means of the knob or hand wheel 12 and in so doing will carry the contacts 90 to 96, inclusive, into position above the terminals 31 and 38 and will cause the spring-pressed, plunger-type contacts 39, 4B, 4| and 42 to engage the terminals 33, 34, 35 and 36, respectively, to connect the coils 3| and 32 to the testing circuit, not shown. When the movable frame 24 reaches its extreme right-hand position (Fig 2), the knob 12 may be turned in a clockwise direction to simultaneously move all of the contacts 99 to 96, inclusive, into engagement with their associated terminals 31 and 38. Rotation of the knob 12 will cause the locking portion 13 to turn in the semi-circular opening at the end of slot 19 and will lock the framework 24 against movement until the contacts 9|! to 96, inclusive, are disengaged from their associated terminals 31 and 38 by a counter-clockwise rotation of the lever 1|. The brush 31 may then be cammed into'engagement with the separators of the relay and the relay is then ready to be tested, all the terminals and frame thereof having been connected to the separate wires in the cable |02.

Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been described hereinbefore, it will be understood that many modifications and adaptations thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A testing apparatus comprising a frame for supporting an article to be tested, a plurality of contacting elements for engaging spaced parts of the .article to be tested, and a lever for moving said contactors simultaneously in one plane into position to engage parts of the article to be tested and for moving said contactors in another plane to engage the parts of the article.

2. In a testing apparatus for connecting electrical equipment to testing circuits, a plurality of contactors, means for supporting the equipment to be tested, means for moving the contactors into position adjacent theequipment to be tested, and means controlled by said last-mentioned means for imparting a second movement to the contactors to move the contactors into engagement with the equipment to be tested.

3. An apparatus for connecting electrical equipment to be tested to a testing circuit, means for supporting the electrical equipment, means movable with respect to said means for engaging spaced portions of the equipment to be tested, and a lever operable to move the movable means in two different planes to engage spaced parts of the equipment to be tested.

4. In a testing apparatus for connecting electrical equipment to be tested to a testing circuit, a supporting frame for holding the equipment to be tested, a block carrying a plurality of contactors for engagement with spaced portions of the equipment to be tested, and a single means for moving said block in two planes at right angles to one another for engaging the contactors with spaced portions of the equipment to be tested.

5. In an apparatus for connecting electrical equipment to be tested to a testing circuit, a movable framework, a block carried by said movable framework, a plurality of rows of contactors mounted on said block, and a lever movable bodily to carryk the block into position adjacent the equipment to be tested and rotatable to move the block to a position where the rows of contactors will engage spaced parts of the equipment to be tested.

6. An apparatus for connecting multi-contact relays to testing circuits comprising means for supporting a relay in position to be tested, a plurality of contacts for engaging terminals of the relay, and a rotatable and slidable means, slida- 'ble for moving the contactors simultaneously into position adjacent the terminals of the relay and thereafter rotatable for engaging the contactors with the terminals of the relay.

7. In a testing apparatus for connecting electrical testing circuits to electrical equipment to be tested, a plurality of contactors connected to the testing circuit, a support for the article to be tested, and a common means for moving the contactorsy in two different planes to engage them with terminals of the equipment to be tested.

8. In a testing apparatus for connecting electrical testing circuits to electrical equipment to be tested, a plurality of contactors connected to the testing circuit, a support for the article to be tested, a common means for moving the contactors in two different planes to engage them with terminals of the equipment to be tested, and means on said common means for preventing movement of the contactors in one plane until they have been moved out cf engagement with the terminals of the equipment to be tested.

9. An apparatus for connecting multi-contact relays to testing circuits comprisingmeans for supporting a relay in position to be tested, a plurality of contacts for engaging terminals of the relay, and a rotatable and slidable means, slidable for moving the contacts towards the relay and thereafter rotatable for `engaging the contactors with the terminals of the relay.

10. An apparatus for connecting multi-contact relays to testing circuits, comprising means for supporting a relay in position to be tested, a plurality of contacts for yengaging terminals of the relay, a rotatable and slidable means, slidable for moving the contacts towards the relay and thereafter rotatable for engaging the contactors with the terminals of the relay, and means for preventing rotation of the rotatable means in all except one of its slidable positions.

11. An apparatus for connecting multi-contact relays to testing circuits comprising means for supporting a relay in position to be tested, a plurality of contacts for engaging terminals of the relay, a rotatable and slidable means, slidable for moving the contacts towards the relay and thereafter rotatable for engaging the contactors with the terminals of the relay, and means for preventing sliding movement of the rotatable and slidable means in all except one of its rotatable positions.

`12. An apparatus for connecting multi-contact relays to testing circuits comprising means for supporting a relay in position to be tested, a plurality of contacts for engaging terminals of the relay, a rotatable and slidable means, slidable for moving the contacts towards the relay and thereafter rotatable for engaging the contactors with the terminals of the relay, and means associated with predetermined ones of said contacts for guiding the terminals to be engaged thereby into association therewith during the movement of the contacts toward the relay.

13. An apparatus for connecting multi-contact relays to testing circuits comprising means for supporting a relay in position to be tested, a plurality of contacts for engaging terminals of the relay, a rotatable and slidable means, slidable for moving the contacts towards the relay and thereafter rotatable for engaging the contactors with the terminals of the relay, and means associated with predetermined ones of said contacts for guiding the terminals to be engaged thereby into association therewith during the movement of the contacts toward the relay, said last-mentioned means comprising a plurality of tapered members positioned beneath the contacts.

14. In an apparatus for connecting electrical equipment to be tested to a testing circuit, movable framework, a block carried by said movable framework, a plurality of rows of contactors mounted on said block, a lever movable bodily to carry the block into position adjacent the equipment to be tested and rotatable to move the block to a position Where the rows of contactors will engage spaced parts of the equipment to be tested, and a cam actuated wire brush carried by the movable framework for interconnecting parts of the frame of the equipment to be tested and connecting them to the testing circuit.

15. An apparatus for connecting multi-contact relays to electrical testing circuits comprising a movable framework, a contact support slidably mounted on said framework, a spring normally holding said contact support in an elevated position, a plurality of rows of contacts insulatedly mounted on said support for engagement with a row of terminals of the relay, a rotatable and slidable lever for sliding the movable framework toward and awayfrom the relay, camming mechanism cooperating with said lever upon rotation thereof to cam the contact support downwardly against the action of the spring, and locking means for preventing the lever from sliding when the lever is rotated from its normal position and for preventing rotation of the lever in all of its positions except one.

ARVID N. H ANSON. STANLEY F. WARNER. 

